Overview

The Tale of the Blind Beggar with Two Blindnesses is a story in Book Two of Rumi's Masnavi. It tells of a blind beggar who pleads for extra mercy from people because he suffers from two forms of blindness.

The Two Blindnesses

While his physical blindness is obvious to everyone, the beggar explains that his second blindness is his extremely harsh, grating voice. Instead of evoking sympathy, his begging voice usually drives people away or makes them angry, thus doubling his affliction by preventing him from receiving charity.

Spiritual Significance

When the beggar honestly reveals his secret shortcoming (his ugly voice) and begs with sincere self-awareness, the grace and sweetness of his inner spirit transform his outer voice. Rumi uses this story to illustrate that acknowledging one's hidden defects and speaking with humble truthfulness invites divine grace, which can turn one's shortcomings into a source of beauty and compassion.